Paramount California University/ trustworthy

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by hiopo, Jan 29, 2015.

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  1. hiopo

    hiopo New Member

    Hello everyone,

    Paramount California University

    Does anyone know something about this school? I know that they are accredited by ASIC but not accredited by the CHEA.
    As far as my research is correct, ASIC is a UK accrediting body, so what does that mean?
    Are the degress that you can obtain from Paramount California University legal or are those people just a bunch of criminals?

    They offered me to get half of the credits needed for a BBA through prior life experience (2 years Army, 2 years office work and some credits from an unaccredited university)

    I am thankful for any help
    Regards
     
  2. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Red flag 1: ASIC notwithstanding, from an American perspective, they are not accredited.

    Red flag 2: They do not say on their web site how much the school costs. This means they don't think it's a selling point, which means they're almost certainly no less than a lower cost accredited school would be.

    Red flag 3: They are not unique in offering credit for life experience (usually called "prior learning assessment"). If you really deserve a significant amount of credit for your military and professional experience, you will be able to get it from a number of other colleges.

    Honestly, I would keep looking. If you tell us your goals, we can help you find something much better recognized, and almost certainly at no more cost.
     
  3. mbwa shenzi

    mbwa shenzi Active Member

    It's an independent, UK-based accrediting body. And Paramount California University is an affiiate of CUFCE, California University FCE.
     
  4. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    :iagree:

    Plus, I'd highlight the fact that their range of degree programs is extremely underwhelming. Let's face it, you can find Business degrees anywhere.

    (although that Master of Virtual Reality degree sounds kinda spooky/fun, in a Matrix sorta way)
     
  5. LearningAddict

    LearningAddict Well-Known Member

    Are we sure they're still affiliated with them?

    On a similar note, I see that ASIC is recognized in CHEA: CHEA International Directory

    Looking closer at ASIC, it appears that it is recognized as a legitimate accrediting body, but I think the issue is that outside the UK (and probably inside the UK) it's not well-know. Even less so here than the DEAC or any number of other national accrediting bodies in the U.S., but ASIC does appear to have a number of U.S. schools on its roster.

    I also can't say I'm crazy about some of the schools accredited by ASIC. One school is actually called "Revelation 3:20 Theological University". Is the education there good? Maybe, I don't know. But that name is just... smh.
     
  6. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    ASIC is not a CHEA-recognized accreditor. The current list of CHEA-recognized organizations is available here, in the "2014-2015 Directory of CHEA-Recognized Organizations", at the chea.org website. ASIC isn't included.

    Note that your link does not go to the chea.org website -- it goes to the cheainternational.org website. CHEA sponsors an association known as the "CHEA International Quality Group" (CIQC) that addresses international accreditation issues; the cheainternational.org website is for CIQC.

    ASIC apparently participates in the CIQC, which is great. But participation in CIQC doesn't make them a CHEA-recognized accreditor.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 29, 2015
  7. LearningAddict

    LearningAddict Well-Known Member

    My wording may have been wrong. I was just pointing out that they're in the database.
     
  8. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    The point is that there are two CHEA databases, which serve different purposes.

    At the CHEA website, there is a directory of "CHEA-recognized organizations". These are US-based accreditors that have met the requirements for CHEA membership, and therefore have the official CHEA "seal of approval".

    At the CHEA International website, there is an "International Directory" of "Accrediting Organizations, Quality Assurance Agencies and Ministries of Education by Country." The International Directory is just a big reference list of hundreds of agencies or ministries, that handle licensing or accreditation issues in countries throughout the world. No CHEA "seal of approval" is implied.

    ASIC is in the second directory (under "United Kingdom"), not the first.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 29, 2015
  9. Maxwell_Smart

    Maxwell_Smart Active Member

    Probably doesn't matter since ASIC is based in the UK and that list only includes U.S. accreditors, if I'm not mistaken.

    Best source for this would of course be a UK-based Government organization. So I've looked at Gov.uk and couldn't find any of their schools listed. Not a good sign. They seem to have some solid affiliations, though. But affiliation is not the same as official recognition of quality.
     
  10. hiopo

    hiopo New Member

    Thanks so far

    Hi

    Thank you very much so far. This market for online universities seems huge and i am thankful for any help.

    I am looking for an accredited School that has an online bachelors degree course in Business Administration and reasonable prices. On top of that it would be Great to get some of my Military Time and Professional experience to be valued in terms of prior learning. Do You Know any schools That You World recommend?

    Thanks a lot
     
  11. mbwa shenzi

    mbwa shenzi Active Member

    Good question, thank you. But of the schools listed as affiliates by CUFCE, three are accredited by ASIC, two of them recently. One of the colleges in the list was previously accredited by ASIC but has since lost accreditation.
     
  12. hiopo

    hiopo New Member

    Hi guys,

    thanks so far for the help.
    Well i am looking for an online bachelors degree in an accredited institution. Ideally this school should be affordable and employ prior learning assesments.

    The number of schools is quite overwhelming and i would really appreciate if you could give me some clarity.

    Thanks
     
  13. msganti

    msganti Active Member

    AFAIK, CUFCE is only a credit evaluation company, and their web site is full of vague and dubious references to a million links all over the world. I am not even sure any legit school will take their evaluation seriously.
     
  14. mbwa shenzi

    mbwa shenzi Active Member

    Of the 20+ universities I am in contact with re admission issues, there's not a single one that would base a decision on admission on an evaluation from CUFCE, as far as I know.
     
  15. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    For starters I would look into the big 3 on-line colleges - EC, COSC, and TESC. All provide credit for prior learning however this is usually expensive (but you can use CLEP, DSST, and other exams to validate prior learning, often at low cost).

    Regarding credit for your military experience here how COSC awards credit:
    Transfer Credit for Military Experience - Charter Oak State College Catalog
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 5, 2015
  16. mbwa shenzi

    mbwa shenzi Active Member

    It may have been a coincidence but Paramount California University disappeared in the wake of the Axact scandal. It resurfaced (or rather doubled) as Coronado Pacific University and on June 25th, the domain hollywoodinternationaluniversity-edu dot us was registered. If website content is anything to go by, then Hollywood International University is a reincarnation of Paramount California University.
     
  17. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    sort of a zombie thing. that entity never really dies, it just morfs.
     
  18. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    I just looked at Coronado's website, and if they're a mill, they're certainly targeting a very small niche market.

    A Master's in Virtual Reality? :ponder:
     
  19. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Virtual reality Masters' degrees aren't quite as rare as one might think - either in the US, UK or Europe.

    Here's A UK listing with several properly accredited programs: Masters Degrees (Virtual Reality)

    Here's a program from the 100% legit Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya. Master in Computer Graphics and Virtual Reality - BARCELONATECH

    In the USA, I believe one might find a program with emphasis on virtual reality at University of Advancing Technology (RA) or maybe Full Sail University (DEAC). Yes - just visited their pages... they both deal extensively in this area.

    Hope this helps. :smile:

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 24, 2015
  20. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    DEAC? Oh, silly me! Full Sail U. is Nationally accredited by ACCSC, not DEAC. Sorry! :smile:

    J.
     

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